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Question – Discuss the problems faced by the urban poor in India and the programmes and initiatives of the Government to tackle it ? – 3 June 2021
Answer –
According to the 2011 census, about 11.16% of India’s population lives in urban areas. This includes a large number of the urban poor. According to Dr. C. Rangarajan expert group formed on poverty, the population below the urban poverty line is about 26.4 percent of the urban population.
Problems faced by the urban poor:
- Limiting access to employment opportunities and income.
- About 17% of the population of the cities live in slums.
- Basic facilities and services related to sanitation are not available to the urban poor. For example, about 13% of the total households in urban areas do not have toilets available.
- Almost half of the urban poor’s children are malnourished, while 30% of urban households do not have access to clean drinking water.
- Limited access to adequate health and education opportunities.
- Class discrimination against the poor in cities is increasing.
- Political participation of urban poor is also low.
Some initiatives initiated by the government to eradicate urban poverty:
(1) PradhanMantriAwasYojana (Urban):
Under this, housing for all is envisaged by 2022.
(2) Smart Cities Mission:
Under this, 100 sustainable and citizen friendly cities are to be built by 2019-20.
(3) Atal Renewal and Urban Transformation Mission (AMRUT):
Urban facilities will be increased under this.
(4) DeendayalAntyodayaYojana (National Urban Livelihood Mission):
To provide financial assistance to assist in setting up individual and group enterprises and self help groups.
(5) Other Schemes:
Skill Indies, Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan etc.
Conclusion:
Provisions related to the development of basic services, targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups, skill development and gainful employment should be included to address urban poverty.
